Sunflower Foundation believes that a strong nonprofit sector contributes to the quality of life, economic stability, and health of a community. Driven by this philosophy, in October 2021, the foundation opened the Sunflower Nonprofit Center, which serves as its home and as an investment in its nonprofit partners.
Two restored/renovated, century-old buildings anchor the scenic, 13.5-acre campus, from which the foundation strives to expand on its mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of all Kansans. The center, which supports capacity building, leadership development and learning opportunities for nonprofits, offers:
• Meeting and conference space.
• State-of-the-art technology for onsite and virtual meetings.
• A soon-to-open shared workspace environment that will promote collaborative learning and partnerships.
• Additional resources that support the needs of nonprofits, charitable organizations, and public agencies whose work aligns with the foundation’s mission.
• Access to outdoor spaces and walking trails.
• Nonprofit rates to make it available for groups of all sizes and budgets.
What is one interesting fact about your space?
Pioneering health care work has long been a hallmark of the historic hillside property that is now home to the Sunflower Nonprofit Center. The location, which has become known as Healing Hill, was formerly home to the Security Benefit Association (1892-1954) and Menninger Foundation and Clinic (1959-2002). The Nonprofit Center consists of two renovated/restored 1920s era buildings – one that originally was built to supply heat and electricity to the campus and these days is appropriately known as the Powerhouse Education Center, and another that originally served as the dormitory for the SBA nursing staff but now houses Sunflower Foundation’s corporate offices and a soon-to-open shared workspace environment.
What are your favorite resources that you would recommend to others?
We have found that the use of surveys/needs assessments to gauge the state of the nonprofit sector can aid in the creation and continuing development of your nonprofit center business model. Networking with your peers also is important, and the NCN listserv is a great resource to share best practices and learn from each other’s successes and failures.
Center Name: Sunflower Nonprofit Center
Center Member Type: Center in Operation
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Center Website: www.sunflowernonprofitcenter.org
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